Apparatus for filling containers



June 3, 1947. RQ B. McKlNNls Y APPARATUS -FOR FILLING CONTAINERS 3Sheets-Sheet l Filed Oct'. 15,l 1941 x San@ Ill June 3, 1947.

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June 3, 1947. R. B. McKlNNls APPARATUS FOR FILLING CONTAINERS 3Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed 001'.. l5, 1941 zo 3% B.

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Nouvasdo Patented June 3, 1947 APPARATUS FORFILHNG CQNTALNEBSL RonaldlB.l McKinnis, WintenHavenFla,

Application October 15, 1941 .Serieel NO- 41,5,'123l Claims.

My invention relates to amethod ,and apparatus for lling containers.This case is a continuation in part of my copending cases, Serial Nos.299,386, filed October 13, 1939, n ow abandoned, and 299,387, ledOctober 13, 1939, now abandoned- More partculariyA my inventiomrelatesto the filling. of containers with` liquids which it is desired tomaintain sterile and unoxidized. The

system hereinafter to be described may bey used toll containers withsterile unoxidized juices, such as citrus fruit juices, and the juicesof vegetables, though it is not exclusively of use for this DUIDOSG.

Avcontrol process is herein described that is in part. automatic and inpart manual. Apparatus and methods rforoperation of thew appar ratushave been devised with certain objects in view which will be apparent`from the ensuing description. Among oth'er objects the followf ing arerspecically pointed out.

An object of the invention is to devise amethod of llling containerswith sterile unoxidized liquid which will Ibe automatic, atleastin part.

Another. object of the invention is to devise apparatus that is positiveinaction, simple to manufacture and easy to repair and replace.l

Still another object is to furnish a system that will prevent, the.introduction of sterilizing liquid intothecontainer while tliejuice isbeing pumped into the container.

Yet another object is -to,.fur nish `a, system that will permit a numberof containers to bev filled simultaneously.

The method and apparatus herein described are adapted to be used whenthe operator desires to till ,large containers for shipping 0r storage,and means have been provided for automatically stopping the feeding oithe desired liquid to a container when a predetermined amount has beendelivered thereto,

With th'ese and other objects in View, which may be incident'to myimprovements, the inventionv consists in the parts and combinations tobe hereinafter set forth and claimed, with the understanding that theseveral necessary elementscomprising my inventiony may be Varied :inconstruction, proportions and arrangements, Without departing from thespirit and scope` of the `appended e claims.

In .order to make my invention more clearlyr understood, ,Iv have shownin the accompanying drawings means for carrying the same into practicaleiect without limiting the improvements in their useful appliatlonsto.the particular con,-`

ca ,valves 24,. and headers; 25.` are lilcewise4 opened.

vable con 2; structiops,wliiclticr,the purpcse of explanation, here beenmede the subject of, illustrationln the drawings.:

.Fia 1 diagrammatically illustrates aisystem for. lline. a .plurality 0fcontainers Eig- 2,isadiesie.mmsti illustration of a .GQ12- trol systemfor the control of the fillingoperations in the system illustratedv inAFig. 1.

Fia ,is a bitpipeN diagram. 0iv atypical fillips Operation,

Thefsysiem is of particular use, abovestated, in storingen@ shippingcitrus fruit juices which' meybefextracted underthe ecndiiiciis, setforth Patent Not, 2,226,513,` granted December 24, 1940.

1p (incierto. utilize i0 themaximum the hot wav ter, suppl@ I`provide..- variable, speedpumping means se that the volumeoi .hetsienflizine liquid delivercdftofany one refilleblc container may be,balanced-,in accordance, with the amount of hot water available.

My system comprises .a series of large capacity re-usuable containers Ihaving valves v2 and 3,. Thefarreneementissuch th'at-the'velves 2 and 3,

when ithe,ccritair-1cis :l are lled with fruit juice,

ce beplesed end the; containers remoyed from the-systemf-fop shippingvor ,storica- Eachcontainer:isesaptedto rest on a bese 4formed*W-itliasiippcrt-: which rests, opl a scale beam 6 providedwithafmcyable weight 1 for adjusting thescaleie any desired weight- Thesceletbeem is fulrumed Op a support 8 The ariiiistmentfcf the Weightalong. the length of enaplesitte;betiltedfwhen each reps.- has beeniilled t0` the desired amount Each @itl-,1e Containers Imaybe nexibly,connectedte the piping system, to bev describedztekpermit free operationofy the scala,

I have the Ydrawingsa source of-hot water; supply Si; fedfby;afhctwsteripipe Hl',A controlledfby avalve vI l i .Adapted to drawhotster.- ilizinewateryfrem the: het water supply. Stare pipes.v l2;.Urend |44., Water issiicked through the pipes.y I2; I3 and; I4j -byreversible variable ispeedmumps I5;e t6 and l1, respectively.

Thesepllmps-inihe. rst; cycle of my operatipiift are adapted to .feedhet sterilizing Water throughvalves I8, ,lfepd- 20 through. valves 3,tQiihe containersl. 4

By causing the,piiiiiisrl5l llaricl.` llic'pilmp hot Water through the.linesll, 22131191123 all@ valves: 3-,to the containers l, thecontainersl may belled witnhot weterendzsterilized. 1n

thistiillirie operation ille valves Zerevpenepl, and

The valves 24 control the flow of the hot sterilizing liquid to a ventline 26 which feeds back at its lower end into the source 9 of hot watersupply. The valves 27 in the headers 25 are closed during this illingoperation. Thus all air and gas in the apparatus and lines are purgedout by the hot water and the lines and apparatus are sterilized.

The next step is to fill the lines and apparatus with a sterilenon-oxidizing gas displacing the water. I have shown a pipe 28 leadingfrom the gas supply source to a gas sterilizer 29 through a valve 30.The supply may be any inert nonoxidizing gas, such as carbon dioxide ornitrogen. The gas is sterilized by a sterilizer 29 and passes to acooling coil 3|, which is shown diagrammatically in a simple coil form.From the cooling coil 3I the gas iiows throguh a line 32, and throughvalves 2'I which are now open, the valves 24 having been closed, throughthe headers 25 and valves 2 into the containers I,

The variable speed pumps I5, I6 and I 'I have been reversed and pump thesterilizing water back through lines 2I, 22 and 23, and into the hotwater tank 9. This hot water passes out of the tanks I in front of thecool sterile non-oxidizing gas.

When the tanks I and the lines 2|, 22 and 23 have had the water removedfrom them, and are lled with the inert gas, the valves I8, I9 and 2G areclosed. From a suitable source of supply (not shown) through a pipe 33,a sterile non-oxidized liquid, such as orange juice, is drawn, and ispumped by means of a juice pump 34 through a line 35 and a heating coil36. Here the juice may be sterilized, if it has not been previouslysterilized. From the heating coil 36 the juice is pumped through acooling coil 3'I and a line 38 into a header 39. From the header 39,through valves 49, 4I and 42, the sterile unoxidized juice is pumped,through valves 3 into tanks I. The valve-s I8, I9 and 20 are closedduring this operation, as before explained.

The juice passes through header 39, valves 40, 4I and 42 and valves 3into the containers I until they are iilled to the desired level, atwhich time the scale beam will indicate that the correct weight of juicehas been discharged into the tank. Valves 3 and 2 are shut and thecontainers I can be removed for storage or shipment.

I have described the construction and operation of my system in detail,but in summary it can be said that the reversible variable speed pumpsI5, I6 and I'I in the sterilizing cycle pump hot water into the tanks Iuntil the tanks I are filled, and the vent line 2E discharges hot waterback into the hot water supply tank 9. Following the sterilizing cycle,there is a gassing cycle in which the system is lled with inert gas.

The next cycle is one in which the tanks are lled with juice which hasbeen sterilized and cooled. The juice pump 33 moves the juice throughthe header 39, into the tanks I, driving out through valves 2, headers25, valves 24 and vent line 26, the sterile inert gas. Alternativelythis gas can be driven out through valves 2, header 25, valve 2l, pipe32, back to the gas supply or gas storage. When the tanks have beenfilled to the desired amount, as indicated by the scale beams, thevalves 2 and 3 are shut, and the tanks can be removed from the system.

The system I have described is iiexible, and one, two or more tanks canbe lled at one time by manipulation of the valves in the headers 25.Moreover the rate at which the tanks I can be lled with the hot water isindividually controllable through the reversible variable speed pumpsI5, I6 and Il. Where only one tank, for instance, is to be iilled, thespeed of the pump can be greatly increased, as the operating conditionspermit such accentuated rate of pumping over that which exists when aplurality of containers are to be lled.

The variable speed water pumps are designed not only to regulate thespeed of admission of water, but the speed of withdrawal as well, sothat the rate of withdrawal of water may be denitely correlated to thegas supply.

The system which I have shown in Fig. 1, and which has just beendescribed, is adapted to be controlled by a control system which isillustrated diagrammatically in Fig. 2. In order to clarify thedescription, it is thought that the operation should be set forth sothat the desired results will be apparent as the description of thecontrol system is given.

Fig. 3 is a chart illustrating graphically the steps which are to beperformed by the control system. There is a timer motor which in a givenoperation is shown to be on for a period of eighty minutes. This periodcan be shortened or lengthened depending on the operating conditions,During the time the timer motor is working, it operates to control, rst,the hot water valve which is left open during the whole period of thetimer moto-r operation. The vent valve for venting the gas already inthe system at the start of the operation is shown to be on forapproximately fty minutes. During this time the water pump is operatingin the direction indicated as forward. That is to say,'hot sterilizingwater is being pumped into the tanks I, and into the lines leading tothe tanks, so that the tanks and the lines are sterilized. The nextcycle is one in which the water pump is reversed. This sucks the hotwater out of the system through the open hot water valve.

The water pump is reversed at the same time the gas valve is open. Thisgas valve is the one that controls the introduction of inert sterile gasinto the system, such as carbon dioxide, nitrogen, a mixture of the two,or other inert gases. The gas is sucked in the container and the linesas the hot water is evacuated. This cycle may operate for thirtyminutes, more or less, depending on the operating conditions. At the endof this time the hot `water valve is closed, the timer motor is thenstopped and the operation of the water pump in reverse is stopped. Thegas valve controlling the sterile inert gas is still left open. Thesystem is full of the inert sterile gas, the system having been, asabove indicated, sterilized prior to the introduction of the sterileinert gas.

The timer motor having now stopped, there is a time space before anyother operation begins. The time space can be made as long 0r as shortas is desired, as the next cycle is manually controlled. As abovestated, the gas valve is open, the juice valve is then opened by manualoperation and the juice pump turned on, thus pumping juice into thesystem and into the juice container until the desired amount of juicehas been pumped into the container.

By operation of the scale balance and of a mercury switch on the scalebeam, to be later described, the juice 4pump is then automaticallyturned off. The sterile inert gas has been discharged by the juice as itfilled the container. The container may now be disconnected by closing.valves-2; and 315 and: theecontainer; maar; be shippedor 'storedgasdesired- To; summarizethe; operation; .the:followingopi erations areautomatic.v Timer-motorfautomatically controls the opening5-vof. the-hot water .valve, the .opening ofthe vent yvalve, the startingof .theWater pump; to rpump .sterilizing Watersthrough the` system, thereversal Eef-the lwater pumnrthe opening of the'gas-valve landthe-passage-,of;the inert sterile gas linto thesystem.; The giiSi/alvehasbeen opened automatically andremainsopen.

The opening of the fjuicefvalveandthe turning on=of the juicepumpareemanually'performed operations.

The turning oir.'ofi-thezjuice-pump .and the clos ing of the,Y juicevalve'are."r automatically. controiled.

I have provided means-for -theoperation :of :the system and controloithe cycles just described. The system I have illustrated is one thatis .partly pneumatic and partly electrical. A-portion ofthe operationlis controlled automatically, whilepart of the operation ismanuallycontrolled.

The desiredsequence of operation having just been described, thearrangement of apparatusto effect this operation vvillnorvbe explained.Reference is made to Fig. .2 Where-I have illustrated a juice containerI connected vthroughavalve 2 to a vent line 26 through thevalve 24 andagas line 32 through the valve 21. TheI Valve 3.at the bottom of thejuice.. containerf is connected through the valve I 8f to the. waterline 2|;and through the Valve 40.to the juice line.39..

The illustration `shown in Fig.` 2..only indicates one juice container,though it .is apparent that the system therein .depicted can be expandedv to take care of any desired number of containers. The system shown ispartlypneumatic and partly electrical.

The air line will be` traced so. that the lcomponent parts will be.apparent. Airunderpressure isY introduced through a line lnhaving.therein a valve IOI, thence. the airpasses to a water trap and lterI02.and thence toa line |03 inwwloich is mounted a pressure gauge |04.

The line |03joinsa line |05.which has=one branch |06 thatleads to anairvalve I 01. Another branch |08 from the line |05 passes to anothercomplemental air valve..|09.

The air Valve |01 controls the flow' of airinto a line I |9whichconnects to a line| I terminating in a pneumatic switch II2. Thelinealso has apressuregauge II3. Line ||0 -is connected .to a diaphragmoperator I I4 which is adapted .to open the .vent yValve-.24.. Theventvalve 24 `is normally constructed to remain closedexceptwhenpositively. keptopen through theoperation of.. thevalveoperator I I4.

Line ||0 connects to a line ||5 which carries a .double diaphragmoperator I I6 which is adapted to open the water valve I8. As with ventvalve 24, the water valve I8 only remainsopen when held open .by thepneumaticvalve operator H6. Another way to state this is to saythat both.valves 24 and Y|38 are direct acting..

In line is a diaphragm valve operator ||1 which is also direct actingand which is adapted to open the juice valve 40'.

Connected to air valve |09 isair line. I I8 which is in turn connected.toa pneumatic switch. H9, apressure gauge and aline I2 I.

The line |2| is connected toa line |22which is. connected'to the doublediaphragmfvalve operating mechanism I IBL The arrangement issuch thatupon. pressure.being emitted to. line |22.

6 throughrtheffoper-ation of-.rthez-air val-vel09, the doublediaphragmvalve;operating mechanism. I I8 willalso operate to holdropenthe waterfvalve I8. Thus pressurefirr; eitherline ||5 .or line |22 will`holdopen thei'drectacting water valveyl.

Connected `to'line. y| I0 isa line |23 lwhich. terminates in apneumaticrelay |24 for closing the circuit forloperating thewater pump'. motor inthe iorwarddirection, as will be later de.- scribed.

Connected to line |2I is, aline I 25;wh.1`chA is connectedrto anairoperatedsrelay |26 .which is adaptedl to. close .the circuit. tocontrol .the ereverse operationof thezwater pumpxmotor'as will be laterdescribed.

Connected to line |-25 .is a. line. |21 whichzterminates in a pneumaticswitch I28.-:

The switches.1||2; H3', |28,1 and theirelays|24 andlZS yareallpadapted.`to operateito closefcircuits uponapplication .of pressure in the line.to these elements..

Ifhayeindicatedgenerallya timer motor. |29 having. a timing. cam |30and-.a eld winding |3I. The field winding |3| ofthe timing motor .|29is. in a circuit` I32,ccnnected.to a source of alternating. current.Current is adapted'to be passed through the eld winding ||3|, andthetiming motor. |29 started :bymeans .ofoa starter button |33 i whichcompletes the. circuit l through asolenoid switchI |34znormal1y closed,as.- indicatedfin Fig. 2 and'through aswitch-.I52'f closedforautomatic-operation.

The starter switch button |33 lisfpressed down and thisenergizeswindingI3Iandr starts vthe .timer motor |29 to cause the cam |30-fto`rotate inYthedirection indicated by the arrow. The high portion of the cam passesunder a-carn follower |35 on a pivoted arm |36;` When rthe cam follower`|35 hits thefhigh portion of--the-carn |30;` this operates to open theair valve |01. This lets air into the line ||0, line 4| I Vand airswitch ||2v to close the circuit tothe field winding ||3| of the timermotor |29; Thereforey on release of the starter button |33, the circuitthrough the eld winding I3| -is still maintained and the starter .motorwill continue its operation.

Air is also admitted under pressurev through the air valve |01 to the-line I0 and to diaphragm valve operating mechanism ||4 which -opensthevent valve 24.-v Likewiserthe water valve I8 is opened throughthe-double diaphragm valveoperator IIfS. The pneumatic relay |24/ispushed into the down position to close a circuit to a -forwardoperating` relay to cause the current from an alternating current line|31 to operate a Water pump motor |38 in a forward direction to drivethe pump l5 to pump water 'from the hot water supply 9 through the pipe2| to the water valve I8'.

Current issupplied when the pneumatic relay |24 has closed lead |31avfrom line |31 through upper contacts of the relay |24-, lead- 231, thepole |52 of switch |52, the stop switch |55, leads 238 and 239, theclosed contacts |66 of motor control relay |63, leads 240'and 24|, thelower contacts of relay` |247,l lead'242, to thewinding H52.` of` theforward'control relay IBI, and through lead |3111' to line1I31. Thisenergizes the winding |62 and closes the contacts of therelay |6| tosupply current from the line` |31 through the'leads |31a, |31b and |316,then throughthe three righthandcontacts ofrelay |81 and leads |38a, |38band |380 to the motor |38 to drive it in a .forwardrdirectionto:pumpwater into .the

ankI.

As the hot sterilizing water vfrom the tank 9 is forced into the juicecontainer through Water valve I8 and valve 3, any gases, such as air,which may be in the juice container I are forced out through valve 2 andvent valve 24, which is opened into the vent line 26. The operation iscontinued as long as the cam follower |35 is on the high part of the cam|30. When the cam follower |735 leaves the high part of the cam |30, thegases, such as air, should be thoroughly purged from the container.

The next part of the operation is the part of the operation in which thehot sterilizing water is drawn from the tank and sterile inert gas issubstituted therefor.

Cam follower |35 now falls to the lowest portion of the cam |30. Thiscloses Valve |01 and opens valve |09. It will be noted that the pressurein the valve operator I I4 has fallen and that the direct acting ventvalve 24 is closed.

At the same time the switch ||2 opens and the relay |24 opens. At thesame time air valve |09 is opened which closes pneumatic switch ||9,thus maintaining the circuit through the eld winding I3| of the timermotor |29, and thus causing the timer motor I 29 to continue itsoperation. The water pump motor is no longer going in the forwarddirection but is now shifted into the reverse direction by means ofpneumatic relay |26 which closes the circuit to control the reversedirection of the water pump motor |38. The current flow from line |31 isnow through line |31a, by-pass line 243, upper contacts of switch |26,lead 231, pole |52', switch |52, lead 238, lead 244, closed contacts |65of relay IGI, leads 245 and 246, lower contacts of switch |26, lead 241,winding |64 of reverse control relay |63 to conductor |31b.

The current to operate the motor flows through lines |31a, |31b and |31cto leads |38a, |38c and |3817 to the motor. It will be observed that theconnections |3813 and |38c to the line |31 have been transposed to drivethe motor in a reverse direction. The water valve I8 is still open byreason of the pressure in the line |22. The reversal of the water pumpmotor |38 causes the water pump I to draw water out of the juicecontainer I. Simultaneously with the closing of the reverse controlcircuit for the water pump motor, pneumatic switch |28 has closed toclose the circuit through a mercury switch |39 carried by the scale beam6, or a solenoid switch |39', connected in parallel therewith, through asolenoid winding |40 and a source of alternating current |4I.

The solenoid switch |39 is closed normally and its winding is connectedin series with the mercury switch |39. If the tank is full of water atthe termination of the ilushing cycle and the mercury switch is open dueto the overbalanced scale beam 6, the current may be supplied to theWinding |40 of the relay |42 through the switch |39'. As the Water iswithdrawn from the tank and its decrease in weight again closes theswitch |39, current is supplied to energize the winding of the switch|39 and cause it to open and permit the mercury switch |39 to break thecircuit when the tank has become filled with juice.

The operation of the solenoid winding |40 closes a relay |42 whose uppercontacts close a circuit to a solenoid |43 which opens the gas valve 21.

The pump I5 is now operating in reverse direction and is pumping waterout of the juice container I. The gas valve 21 is open, and gas from thegas line 32 is admitted to the juice container. The cam follower |35 nowassumes the position shown in Fig. 2, where it is on the intermediateportion of the cam, that is to say, the portion that is intermediate inheight. When this happens, the air valve |09 is turned in the oliposition. This opens the reverse relay |26 and stops the water pumpmotor |38. It likewise opens the pnerunatic switch |28. It is to benoted, however, that solenoid relay |42 is held in the up position byreason of the passage of current through a lower portion of the switch,thus completing a circuit through the solenoid winding |40 and themercury switch |39. Thus the solenoid winding |40 is kept energized andthe solenoid winding |43 is likewise kept ener gized, thus keeping thegas valve 21 open.

It is to be noted that the relay |42 is closed which causes theenergization of a solenoid |44 connected by electrical conductors |45through relay |42 to the line |4I. This opens the circuit through theswitch |34. Thus it is impossible to start the timer motor |29 at thisstage of the operation, for pushing the starter button |33 will notclose the circuit through the eld winding I3| of the starter motor. Notealso that pneumatic switches ||2 and ||9 are also opened so that themotor |29 no longer revolves.

Now the juice container is ready for the introduction of juice which canbe manually effected at any desired time. The juice container is full ofinert sterile gas which will not oxidize the juice upon its introductioninto the container The operation of introducing the juice into thecontainer is effected by pressing the on" button |46 which closes thecircuit from the leads |4| through a solenoid |41 which closes thecontacts of a relay |48 that energizes the control circuit |49 of thejuice pump 34. y

At this stage of the procedure the relay |42 is closed and upon pressingthe on button |46 a circuit is completed through the winding |41 whichextends from conductor I4Ia through the upper closed set of contacts ofrelay |42 through lead 248, through winding |41, conductor 249, switch|56, lead 250, oi button |5|, on button |46, leads 25| and 252 toconductor |4Ib. The energizing of the winding |41 closes the relay |48.Upon closing of the lower set of contacts of relay |48 the circuitthrough the winding |41 is maintained independently of the on button|46. In this instance, the flow of current is from conductor I4Ia, lead248, winding |41, lead 249, switch |56, lead 250, off button |5| andlead 253 through the closed lower set of contacts and thence throughlead 252 to conductor |4|b. Upon completion of this circuit the winding|41 will remain energized until the oil button |5| is pressed breakingthe circuit.

Simultaneously, upon closing of the relay |48 a circuit is completedthrough the upper two sets of contacts to the winding |50 of the controlvalve and to the control circuit |49 of the juice pump. This circuitextends from conductor I4 Ia through lead 248 through the upper set ofcontacts of relay |48 through conductor 254, winding |50, lead 255, theintermediate set of contacts on relay |48, lead 252 and thence toconductor |4|b. It will be noted that the circuit |49 is connected inparallel with the Winding |50 and that upon energizing the winding |50the control circuit of the pump |49 will likewise be energized.

The diaphragm air operator element ||1 for the juice valve 40 operatesto open the direct acting juice valve 40 through operation of a solei9noidf .operated'itwo-wayi control Valve J II 50' `which admits:airilfr'om'tlthe ilinef I05zto thev valve :operati-ngielement I I'I.`-Astexplained,:'.the valve '40: is thus fopenedlbyxreasonfof`theiconfipletion fo'ff the circuitziwhichalsorcontrols :the-starting ofjuicepump.

y.'Iheill'ower.` contacts of the; relay |48 keep' the circuit'ithrough'the uppercontacts closed yby reason :of rthefsolenoid winding |41, thecircuit through which .is' closed :through ran `oit :button |5.|. -Thus1wfhenithe on'button isreleased, the circuit' through :thefoff buttonholdsthey relay |48 'in (its v`upyposition -until themercury.` switch|39zon the scalefbeamris tilted suiciently to break the circuit.vThisoccurs-when the tank I isiil-led tothe requisite amountThebrealting of this circuitfopens the relay `|112. andthe relay I 48-stops the .juice .pump:34 .and closes the -juice vaiifeflll and-closesthe gas yvalve 2.1.

Communicating with the air line |2'I' is a pneumatic switch- |56which-is electrically connected infserieswith-thesolenoid |`4`| of thejuice relay IAB-andthe current supply line HI. This switch wils-normallyclosed and` is opened-when .air isadmi-tted to it through the valvey|03. yHence duringfthe .--rstpart of the :tank sterilizing cycle,thecjuice switch |46-is .madeeinoperativehy the open switch |28 andl-dur.ing-.i'.he -last ypart `by- Vthe openlswitch |56.

Thusit .will beseen. that I have devisedasystem y.in which kit is not.possible` to introduce juice into the system `while sterilizingl-hotwater is .in thesystem, lnoris .it possible to ,introduce sterilizing.hot .waterl while Ajuice is-beingintroduced.

.Under certainconditions, yit ,maybe :necessary to sterilize the tank` I.for .a longer period .of time tlianis provided-by the automatic timing4rmechanism |29. I therefore providelmeans `whereby the Water pump |38may be .manually operated through .its controlfIGIl. -A double4polea-double throw-switch, |52 hasonepole |52V thereof connected toAswitch the .motor control circuit. Iiil from fthe pneumatic relaysvI`2'4.and .|26to a pair of, push button switches -I5`31and |54tomanually operate 'the 4waterpurnp .motor Yin eitherk a .forward.. or.reverse direction. The shift .from .automatic to manualoperationiseffected .before termination. of. the .sterilizing cycle andwhile camI3I)v is in position to hold valveV IU'Lopen.

To insure posi'tiv'elylthat the vent, gas and V water Valves 2.4,.32fandI8 willbein aproperposition 'for circulating Athe water, .,the. second,pole |52".of..'the1sw.itch -|52 which .is connected in the lead '|3211in series with. the. current. supply |32 and Winding' I3Ifoflthetimermotor |29 for automatic. operation is. shifted to ymanual operation.

`As a result, 'when the switchl52 is thrown for manual operationpf thewater. pump,. the .timer motor' isdisconnected from. the. circuit .andthe cam'l30 stops, thusholding valvefll, the Vent and water valves open.

After switch |52 isvv moved to a Lposition for manualoperation .uponpressingy buttonli a circuit 'is completedthrough relay vwinding |62asfollows: Conductor. I3ib, relay winding IBZ, lead"242,' button.|53,leads 124| .andlfllll closed contacts |66A of' relay' |63, leads'239 Aand238, stop button`I`55, switch arm'IEZ'to conductor |310.,thereby completing the circuit. Upon energizing windingy |62, relay ISIisclosed and then motor |38lis connected to the circuit '|37 in thesamemanner as described in connection with the automatic operation.

`When the-motorA |38v `is tobe operated in the reversedlreetionybuttoniItis moved tov-the lclosed position r`and A"thiscompletes the 4 circuit through Winding' Izo'f relay |63 aslfollmvs:..Conductor' 'I 31h, :winding |84, lead 241,:.=push .button|54, lead -246,leadf245,..closed contacts |65fof relay |'6|-,1ead 2M,lead 2238, stop. switch 155, switcharm |52', conductor-I3`la.Upon-completion of this circuitthe winding M4 :is energized andthe relayI53is moi/edito Ia'position` to close its contacts, thereby *completingv.the'f circuit: .from motor |38 to theline `I31,vin themanner identicalto that described iinfconnectionn'with .'theLlautomatic operation'of-.the im'otor fin i' the :reverse direction.

The switches "|53,v and' |54'roperate `the'trelays I5 I .and |63 in' a:manner similar @to the automatic relays 24-and |26 to drive :themotorISB inei-th'er a forward or reverse direction. "Thewmotionof the motorin either direction mayfbe'istopped 4hy opening the'push V'button switch|55 Whichzis connected `in series with maintaining contactsv |67 and |68of the relays' v||| and |63, respectively.

It is to be understoodthat, iinorder-to prevent high vacuum in eachcontainer there iwill ordi/- narily be 'provision' to f createasuiiicientfpressure of. gas after the ycontainers have'sbeen filled tothe desired level tolpreventcreation ot afdang'erfous vacuum byabsorption of the'gasby the' juice. This may lbeaccomplished'by'meansrot aipump 28a. in a byepa'ss'line'28b o'fth'efgas line'28..Itis contemplated .that gases v'fsuch fas nitrogen for mixtures ofgases mayrbe employed. 'Nitrogeniis only slightly 'solubleiaridxdoesnotpresent as'great a problem as does `pure carbon dioxide.

I claim:

1. Apparatus forf'rfilling a cont'ainerfwith v'a charging vliquidcomprising'. sources Aof.; a' 'flushing liquid and thecharging.liquid,f'conduits :respectively connecting 'said' sourceswith`the container, a pump associated withrea'chconduit 'for' effecting flowof liquid-therethrough,.a'norrnatlyfclosed valve in eachconduit,.anactuator;responsive.to the application of fluid pressurethereto iorrop'ening the .flushing valve, aiisec'ond .actuator vforopening the charging valve, .and Ameansresponsive to the pressureoffuidapplied' 'to'thelilu'shing valve f actuator rendering` thechargingvalve actuator' inoperative.. to .prevent-'opening' of l thecharging valve while ltheilushing "valve -isfopen l2. Apparatus forllilling .-a. container wwithha charging liquid comprising sources oflavflushing liquid and the charging liquid, conduits respectivelyconnecting saidsources with the t container, a pump associated witheachconduit for 'eiectlng 'ow of liquid therethrough, .a normallytclosedvalve in each conduit, a pneumatic actuator for opening the -flushingvalvepa solenoidl lfori/opening the charging Valve, lan energizing'circuit for the solenoid, said circuit including a 'normally closed,pneumatically opened switch,a"sourceiof air under pressure, conduitmeans connecting 'the air source both` with "the ilushi-ng.4 valve'.actuator and 'switch for' applying air` pressure thereto to opensimultaneouslyxv the"flushing"valve vand fenergiz'ing circuit andthereby prevent'openingf f the charging valve whilethe'ushing valve isopen, and control valve means in the' air conduit.

3. Apparatus for filling a container 4with a chargingliquidcomprisingsources of a'flushing liquid and thecharging liquid, conduitsrespectively' connecting said sources with the container, a'pum-passociated with-each conduit for yeffecting'flow' of liquidtherethrough, a normally' closed valve -in each conduit, `a pneumaticactuator for opening the 'flushing valve, a solenoid for opening'thecharging valve, an energizingr circuit for the solenoid, saidcircuit including a normallyclosed.

pneumatically opened switch, a source of air under pressure, conduitmeans connecting the air source both with the ilushing valve actuatorand switch for applying air pressure thereto to open simultaneously theflushing valve and switch and thereby prevent opening of the chargingvalve while the flushing valve is open, control valve means in the airconduit, and actuating means for the air control valve including asingle rotation cam for iirst opening and then closing the said controlvalve during a cam cycle.

4. Apparatus for filling a container with a charging liquid comprisingsources of a flushing liquid. and the charging liquid, conduitsrespectively connecting said sources with the container, a pumpassociated with each conduit for eiecting iiow oi liquid therethrough, anormally closed valve in each conduit, a pneumatic actuator for openingthe flushing valve, a solenoid for opening the charging valve, anenergizing circuit for the solenoid, said circuit including a normallyclosed, pneumatically opened switch, a source of air under pressure,conduit means connecting the air source both with the flushing valveactuator and switch for applying air pressure thereto to opensimultaneously the flushing valve and energizing circuit and therebyprevent opening of the charging valve while the flushing valve is open,control valve means in the air conduit, actuating means for the aircontrol valve including a single rotation cam for rst opening and thenclosing the said control valve during a cam cycle, an electric motor forrotating the cam, and an energizing circuit for the motor, said motorcircuit including a normally closed switch having electromagnetic meansfor opening the same, said electromagnetic means being connected in theenergizing circuit for the charging Valve solenoid and energized uponclosing thereof to prevent opening of the iiushing valve while thecharging valve is open.

5. Apparatus for iilling a container with a charging liquid comprisingconduit means including a pump having a reversible driving motoroperative in one direction to deliver a ushing iiuid from a sourcethereof into the container to ll the same and in a reverse direction towithdraw the iiushing liquid from the container back to said source, acontrol circuit for the motor including a forward and a reverse relay,an energizing circuit including a first switch for energizing theforward relay and a second switch for energizing the reverse relay,mechanism including a single rotation cam associated with said switchesand operative to sequentially close and then open the first and then thesecond switch, a second conduit means including a pump having a drivingmotor operative to deliver the charging liquid from a source thereofinto the container, an energizing circuit for the last named motor,switch means in the last named circuit, and actuating means operated bysaid cam to open the switch means during the cam cycle to render thelast named motor inoperative during operation of the first named motor.

6. Apparatus for iilling a container with a charging liquid comprisingconduit means including a pump having a reversible driving motoroperative in one direction to deliver a flushing uid from a sourcethereof into the container to ll the same and in a reverse direction towithdraw the flushing liquid from the container back to said source, acontrol circuit for the motor including a forward and a reverse relay,an energizing circuit including a rst switch for energizing the forwardrelay and a second switch for energizing the reverse relay, mechanismincluding a single rotation cam associated with said switches andoperative to sequentially close and then open the first and then thesecond switch, a second conduit means including a pump having a drivingmotor operative to deliver the charging liquid from a source thereofinto the container, an energizing circuit for the last named motor,switch means in the last named circuit, actuating means operated by saidcam to open the switch means during the cam cycle to render the lastnamed motor inoperative during operation of the rst named motor, astarting switch in the last named circuit for closing the same to startthe charging liquid pump, and a stop switch in the said circuit andresponsive to a predetermined weight of the charging liquid in thecontainer for breaking said circuit to stop the charging liquid pump.

7. Apparatus for lling a container with a charging liquid comprisingconduit means communicating with the container and including a pumphaving a driving motor imparting flow to a flushing liquid to flush thetank, a second conduit means communicating with the container andincluding a second pump having a driving motor ior introducing thestarting material from a source thereof into the container, a firstcircuit for controlling energization of the first motor, a secondcircuit for controlling energization of the second motor, circuitclosing means in the first circuit responsive to the application offluid pressure thereto for closing the first circuit, and circuitbreaking means in the second circuit responsive to the application offluid pressure to said circuit closing means to break the second circuitand render the second pump inoperative While the rst pump is operating.

8. Apparatus for iilling a container with a charging liquid comprisingconduit means communicating with the container and including a pumphaving a driving motor imparting flow to a flushing liquid to flush thetank, a second conduit means communicating with the container andincluding a second pump having a driving motor for introducing thestarting material from a source thereof into the container, a firstcircuit for controlling energization of the first motor, a secondcircuit controlling energization of the second motor, pneumatic circuitclosing means in the first circuit, pneumatic circuit breaking means inthe second circuit, a source of air under pressure, conduit meansconnecting the source with both the circuit closing and circuit breakingmeans, valve means in said conduit means, and mechanism including asingle rotation cam for operating the valve means to nrst open and thenclose the same during a cam cycle whereby the second pump will berendered inoperative while the iirst pump is operating.

9. Apparatus for iilling a container with a charging liquid comprisingconduit means communicating with the container and including a pumphaving a driving motor imparting ow to a ushing liquid to flush thetank, a second conduit means communicating with the container andincluding a second pump having a, driving motor for introducing thestarting material from a source thereof into the container, a firstcircuit for controlling energization of the rst motor, a second circuitcontrolling energization of the second motor, pneumatic circuit closingmeans in the rst circuit, pneumatic circuit breaking means in the secondcircuit, a source of air under pressure, conduit means connecting thesource with both the circuit closing and circuit breaking means, valvemeans in Said conduit means, mechanism including a single rotation camfor operating the valve means to rst open and then close the same duringa cam cycle whereby the second pump will be rendered inoperative whilethe first pump is operating, a motor for rotating the cam, an energizingcircuit for the motor, the cam motor circuit including a serieslconnected circuit closing and an electroresponsive circuit breakingswitch actuated by energizing the second circuit to prevent starting thecam motor while the second circuit is energized.

l0. In a machine for iilling a container with sterile unoxidized fruitjuice or the like, said container having a normally closed pneumaticvent valve, a, normally closed pneumatic sterilizing valve, a normallyclosed solenoid gas valve and a normally closed solenoid juice valve, asource of a sterilizing liquid, a source of sterile inert gas and asource of the juice, said sources connected respectively through saidsterilizing juice and gas valve with the container, and said containerbeing connected with the atmosphere through said vent valve, a rstenergizing circuit for the gas Valve, a second energizing circuitenergized by the iirst circuit for the juice valve, a normally openpneumatic switch in the rst circuit, a normally closed pneumatic switchand a normally open manual switch in series therewith in the secondcircuit, a source of compressed air, conduit means for supplying airfrom said source to the pneumatic valves and switches, a first valve inthe conduit for controlling air supply to the vent valve and sterilizingvalve, a second valve in the conduit for controlling air supply to thesterilizing valve and pneumatic switches, mechanism including a singlerotation cam associated with the air valves operative to open and thenclose the rst valve during a rst portion of the cam cycle and to openand then close the second Valve during the remainder of the cycle, areversible pump associated with the sterilizing valve, mechanismresponsive to the air pressure supplied from the iirst valve to drive 14the pump in a direction to introduce sterilizing liquid into thecontainer to purge air therefrom and responsive to air pressure suppliedthrough the second valve for reversing the pump to withdraw thesterilizing liquid from the container and replace it with inert gas, ajuice pump associated with the juice valve, mechanism energized byclosing of said manual switch for operating the juice pump to introducejuice into the container to displace the gas, and circuit breakingmeansin said second circuit and responsive to a predetermined weight ofliquid in the container to deenergize the mechanism and stop the pump.

RONALD B. MCKINNIS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the ille ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 572,779 Thewer Dec 8, 18962,030,084 Winton Feb. l1, 1936 241,677 Lawton May 17, 1881 1,838,614French Dec. 29, 1931 1,850,425 Taylor Mar. 22, 1932 1,232,271 FranksJuly 3, 1917 2,094,753 Ryan et al Oct. 5, 1937 795,040 Hopkins July 18,1905 1,520,880 Neilson Dec. 30, 1924 2,025,141 Werder Dec. 24, 19352,100,874 Ryan et al Nov. 30, 1937 246,967 Matthews Sept. 13, 1881484,078 Witteman Oct, 11,'1892 2,232,404 Pratt Feb. 18, 1941 2,302,923Zimarik Nov, 24, 1942 1,824,237 Schaum Sept. 22, 1931 2,113,490 NewberryApr. 5, 1938 2,155,272 Jones Apr. 18, 1939 FOREIGN PATENTS NumberCountry Date 792,800 France Oct. 28, 1935 122,264 Germany Aug. 13, 190178,726 Switzerland Jan. 16, 1919 102,452 Great Britain Dec. 7, 1916

